Memory Verse. (Continue on to Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher s guide; your Step 4 appears below.)

Transcription

1 middle school / October 23, 2011 Better Than Kevlar for use as STEP 1. Focus: With God we re on the winning side. Bible Basis: 1 Kings 16:29-31; 18:17-24, Students will discuss the power of the armor God provides for our use. Materials: --Internet access by Mary Hertz Scarbrough When we see Tony Stark in Ironman using his impenetrable armor to ward off the bad guys, it seems pretty far-fetched. But actually, that kind of technology is already in the works for the U.S. Army let s watch: Soldiers aren t using this technology yet, partly because the cost is so great. How many of you have friends or loved ones fighting overseas right now? If you do, explain what it would mean to you to know your soldier had this kind of protection in the battle. What kind of advantages do you think a soldier would have if he wore this exoskeleton armor? Long ago, soldiers used shields of animal skins, wood, metal and eventually in the Middle Ages a full suit of armor. But then firearms were invented, and soldiers in battle were essentially unprotected. This was how it was for hundreds of years. But in the 1960s a scientist named Stephanie Kwolek somewhat unexpectedly found a new, incredibly strong liquid crystalline solution that could be spun into the fiber that is now used in the armor that our soldiers and law enforcement officers wear today: bulletproof vests. Kevlar has saved thousands of lives. It was first used in law enforcement in the mid-1970s. In the first thirty years of its use, it saved at least 3,000 people in law enforcement. It has also saved countless numbers of soldiers. How would you feel if you were someone who was saved by Kevlar? If you were saved by wearing a bulletproof vest, what would you say to Kwolek if you were able to meet her?

2 / October 23, 2011 / Step 1 2 Memory Verse Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 Even with Kevlar, there is no guarantee that a soldier will be protected from harm. That s why scientists continue to try to improve technology as with the exoskeleton suit. Thankfully, God s armor is better than Kevlar or exoskeleton suits. Let s look at how an Old Testament prophet used some of God s armor to fight the prophets of Baal. (Continue on to Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher s guide; your Step 4 appears below.) Sources petrochemistry-and-synthetic-polymers/synthetic-polymers/kwolek.aspx

3 middle school / October 23, 2011 Better Than Kevlar for use as STEP 4. Focus: With God we re on the winning side. Agroup of law enforcement professionals have started an organization called Armor of God. Its purpose is to provide bulletproof vests to law enforcement personnel who don t have them. New vests have a five-year warranty. Even though the vests still work, the company that makes them won t guarantee them beyond five years. The Armor of God project takes these old vests and gives them to officers who work for departments that can t afford to buy vests at all. More than 2,000 vests have been recycled in this way, and the program has saved at least two lives. Bible Basis: 1 Kings 16:29-31; 18:17-24, The Armor of God project is part of a larger Christian organization that wants to spread the word of Jesus to first responders everywhere. You could say that the Armor of God project aims to put law enforcement people on the winning side, when faced with someone who wants to harm them. Discuss: What other methods or equipment do law enforcement personnel have to help them survive danger? (Possible answers: partners, radios for calling for back-up, sirens, computers, experts [such as DNA experts or those who work in crime labs], their guns, fast vehicles, etc.) What things do we have available as our armor of God? (Students may list individual pieces of the armor, or respond with answers such as faith/belief in Jesus, the Bible, prayer, etc.) Even though we have the armor of God available to us, we don t always use it. What is an example of a time when you should have used it but didn t? Why do you think you didn t? (To get this discussion started, lead off with an example from your own life.) What is one way you can help another person put on the armor of God? Explain the circumstances. (Accept all reasonable answers; prayer for that person will be the most likely response.) Going into battle takes courage, whether that battle is in an actual war or whether it s a battle you face in everyday life, such as in school.

4 / October 23, 2011 / Step 4 2 Memory Verse Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 What kind of battles do you face daily where you would appreciate the help of the armor of God? Let s start our own Armor of God project by making sure we are using the armor God has given to each of us, and then watching out for ways we can help others put on the armor of God. Next week I would love to hear about any situations that made you use the armor of God yourself or any ways you put the armor on others. Heavenly Father, help us be on the winning team by putting on the armor of God. You and You alone have provided us with this protection. Let us think of it every day, wear it everyday, and use it for Your purposes. In Your Son s name we pray. Amen. Sources: (David C Cook is not affiliated with and does not endorse any website listed on these pages.)

5 3 Just out this month is a new devotional for girls entitled Truth and Dare by by Ann-Margret Hovsepian. Take a sneak peak at a devotion here: Imagine someone gave you a gift card to your favorite store, but when you went shopping with it, you found out that the expiration date had passed. Or what if someone gave you flowers that were already wilted or a bottle of pop that had lost its fizz? You would feel like you didn t really get anything at all, right? Some young people say, I ll follow God when I m older. I just want to have fun now and do whatever I want. I ll become a Christian later. In other words, they want to spend the best years of their life when they re healthy and energetic and don t have work and family responsibilities living for themselves instead of God. That s kind of like eating a big, juicy apple and then giving God the core that s left over at the end. Right now, you re entering the best years of your life, and you can give them to God as a gift, as thanks for everything He s done for you. Or you can waste them. What do you choose? DARE TRIPLE-DOG DARE! Ecclesiastes 12:1 Your Best Years Following God from a young age will lead to a better life when you re older. Give yourself to Jesus starting now. Think of at least one change you can make in your life to dedicate more of your time to God. Write it down and ask God to help you do it. Make some pretty bookmarks for your friends that say, Remember your Creator in the days of your youth (Eccl. 12:1). Ask an older Christian at church to tell you why she thinks it s good to start following Jesus from a young age. How did it go? What did you learn? Click here for more information:

6 4 Just out this month is a new devotional for guys entitled Triple Dog Dare by Jeremy L. Jones. Take a sneak peak at a devotion here: Philemon 1:10 18 TRUTH Everyone needs a second chance. second chances You ve done something you regret. You might have realized it immediately and tried to grab back your words even as they flew out of your mouth. Or maybe you looked back later and saw you really blew it. Maybe you were a real jerk for a real long time. You wanted another try, a second chance, right? The truth is God gives everyone a second chance. He knows we blew it, and He offers forgiveness and grace that we don t deserve. That goes for us and for everybody else. That s what Paul was writing to ask Philemon: Give Onesimus a second chance. Are you willing to give a second chance to the kid who picked on you all last year? He says he s changed. He seems to be acting different. What about your brother who apologized? He sounds sincere. Make sure the kid follows up on his promise, but give him another chance just like you would want. And don t forget that kid who got a mean nickname or bad rap. Give him a chance. triple DARE O Give someone a second chance this week. O Talk to the kid nobody liked last year. Give him a second chance. O Tell a friend you want him to give another friend a second chance. What did you do? What did you learn? Click here for more information: